The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-28
tsyaen sf.ent enough generally, could

theagn sf,ent enough generally, could
speak out on occasion.
'Now, Jimmy, I was bringing up
coffee pot. 'Taint no use standln' doln'
nothin', and we'll melt some snow and
have some coffee. I've got some already
ground in the pot"
"rll make the fire." said Jimmy, start
ing up as Sam unlocked the coffee pot
from the crosses of the pack saddle.
''There's big mountain rats nest under
this rock. I've noticed it every time
passed, and the sticks are good and dry" !"
The fire was qnickly made, and coffee
was boiled. Then, cups being wanting,
the pot was set away in the snow to cool
sufficiently to permit of drinking from
it. Sam, meantime, cut slices of salt
pork from the piece in his pack, and
these, having been singed in the fire, the
two ate, and drank alternately from the
same spout in loving fellowship.
In the background the jacks hung
over the feast with pleading eyes. Each
was rewarded now and then by a tid-bit
of rind from his masters hand. And
when the pork was finished Sam got out
a small sack of oatmeal, and pouring a
little into his followed hand, the two
Jacks licked it up by brothcrly turns.
Soon after the meal the wind began to
fall, and the clouds, breaking away, the
sun, now declining. struck into the
gulch. Then they widcned the steps
sufficiently to permit of the jacks clam
bering up, and set out for the shanties.
The trail was obliterated, but the
snow was packed hard and they had lit
tic difficulty in gaining the site of the
cabins. Then their fears were confirmed.
Both had disappeared, and no human
sound broke the solemn stiffness. They
had some difficulty, too, in locating the
exact spots where the cabins had stood.
This they at length did, however, by
the aid of the torn and twisted trees.
These, they saw, had broken the force of
the slide, and DETECTED it as we'll, so that
the main shoot had turned aud passed
directly over the lower cabin. The upper
one, inhabited by the Trouts, had been
covered but few feet from the great
side-prcssure OF the mass.
After they had determined the loca-
ton, Sam paused, and leaning on the
shovel which he had brought up, said,
with generous self-restraint, " Now,
Jimmy, we aint got but one shovel.
Which shanty shall we 60 at first"
''Let's draw straws," replied Jimmy,
after moments indecision.
''All right; you fix 'em."
Jimmy stopped, and taking two nee
dies from broken pine bough at his
feet, turned his back.
"Short is our shanty, long is yourn.
Draw, Sam," he said, as he faced about.
Each knew the minutes now were
fraught with life or death to their i'm
prisoned fathers. Jimmy's big hand
tremb,ed as he held the fateful needles
pressed between thumb and finger. Sans
lean, brown one never quivered as he
reached and drew-the short one.
"Your shanty," he said, with long
breath, and flung off his coat. ''I'll take
first shift. We'd better run in an in
cline, so as to strike the door, eff it's still
thar"
Taking short runs, after couple of
hours rapid work, they heard mutfled
CRY from within. Then the door was
soon reached, forced open, and there, to
their great JOY, each saw his father.
To the anxious boys the faces of the
fathers looked white and ghastly from
their confinement in the sitting place,
but the fresh airsoon revived them. The
old man Trail, struggling to his feet, was
the first to speak.
"We might er knowed, Uncle Jimmy"
he said, "that the boys was bound to git
US out"
"Old man." Uncle Jimmy replied, too
much impressed by recent events to think
of aught else, "this slide has settled it fur
me. S'pose we cut the claim in the mid
die and you take fust choice?"
"I was Jest thinkin'," said the old
man, with due deliberation, 'this here
thing of driviu' in two tunnels side
and side is kinder foolishness. If we'd
consolidate on one we'd strike pay rock
all the quicker"
"That's a fact, pardner, and we can
call it the Last Chance" Uncle Jimmy
responded with self-denying alacrity, for
the christening of his find is matter of
moment to the prospector's heart, and
that of the Blue Bird had been evolved
only after long and labored thought.
sI was thinkin'," the old man replied,
with the same thoughtful slowness-"ef
it's all the same to you, pardner-of con-
solidatin' the names likewise into The
Blue Birds Last Chance, and so a-lettin'
of Silver Mountin know this here thing
bctwixt me and you and Jimmy and Sam
is done settled, now and fur good"
As the old man concluded he extended
his hand to Uncle Jimmy. The "shake"
that sealed the compact then went round.
And so. despite the torn trees and drifted
devastation, the sun set in peace on Silver
Mountain. Youths Companion.